When you support LAJF and Camp Rising Sun, you are a part of creating change. The young people in our program are working to make the world a better place, and with supporters like you alongside them, they can do anything. By giving to our organization, you'll be making a difference in the lives of our alumni like Renzo. Please read his story below and make a donation to LAJF and CRS this holiday season.
How to Be your own leader
Renzo U., CRS ‘19, Lima, Peru
The importance of being your own leader was the major lesson that Renzo took home with him after his summer at Camp Rising Sun in 2019. Renzo had never thought of himself as a “leader” because he thought that meant he had to be extremely confident, ambitious, and skilled at giving speeches. Through CRS, his perspective on leadership expanded and he realized that this rigid idea wasn’t the only way someone could lead. Instead of trying to fit into this mold, Renzo discovered that the type of leader he wanted to be was someone who could genuinely connect with others and collaborate on solving problems together.
A pivotal moment came when Renzo was selected to be the leader of the entire camp for a day. Feeling supported by our staff and his peers, he became confident enough to get outside of his comfort zone and step into the leadership role. “On that day, I realized that leadership is inherent in every human being, and that everyone seeks and builds their own leadership style based on their personality and abilities.”
With the lessons he gained from CRS, Renzo now knows how to lead by starting from within. Even in life situations where he doesn’t have an official leadership role, he is his own leader and uses critical thinking skills to help those around him. Looking back on his earlier life before Camp, he recognized that his personal dedication to creating positive change in his community and his commitment to collaboration with his neighbors, were always signs of a true leader.